Business Review 1996/1997

Research and Development

The Radio Technology and Compatibility Group

The Radio Technology and Compatibility Group at Whyteleafe, Surrey, provides internal technical support to all parts of the Agency. It specialises in well-focused applied radio investigation projects needing results at short notice, particularly in relation to compatibility between emerging and existing radio systems. In addition to computer simulations, the work involves the use of radio frequency chambers, test equipment and mobile facilities which could not practically be located in a headquarters office environment. It thus extends the theoretical investigative work which can be carried out in headquarters and complements some of the longer term research work carried out by external organisations.

During the year, the Group carried out technical investigations into many areas, including Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB), ERMES, Fixed Services, low power services, MVDS, narrow band mobile radio and TETRA. The results of these investigations assisted Agency technical staff to establish interference planning criteria between services, test the viability of new services within an interference environment, establish spurious emission limits, and tackle other problems. An important contribution to the work was the simulation of interference scenarios in proposed new services where equipment is not yet available for test. In the case of DAB it has been possible to track the maturing technology, from initial simulations some years ago, to professional prototype equipment, and on to the first commercial receivers today. This has allowed the original planning assumptions to be reviewed.

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